The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-06-30

III tulS region.
In speaking about this great scientist
to the editor of the Democrat, to whom
am indebted for mnch kindness, he said,
"I remember Audubon as an eccentric
man who approached me one morning
and asked me II he could get glass of
milk. My home was in the country
then, some distance from town, and it
was early in the morning before break
fast, and this man came from the woods,
where he had probably been watching
some favorite bird make her morning
toilet. went in and told my mother
that man wanted some milk, and she
told me to tell him to wait few
moments, when breakfast would be
ready, and then he. could come and eat
breakfast with us. l returned and told
him what my mother had said and gave
him chair. As he took it l turned to
leave the room but was interrupted by
his request to remain. consented and
he had me stand up before him, and
drawing some paper and a pencil from
his pocket he began to sketch my pic
ture. When breakfast was announced
tho picture was finished. He presented
it to my mother, who said it was the
best likeness OF me she ever had seen. 1
remember him as long-haired, large
headed, ungainly looking man, who had
withal very pleasant and interesting
face"
In 1920 Audubon started from Cincin-
natl with a surveying party which had
been sent out to make survey of the
Mississippi River. He had letters of
recommendation from General Harrison
and Henry Clay, and had in mind long
excursion through the Southern States.
The journey from Cincinnati to the
mouth of the Ohio was made in fiat
boat, and occupied fourteen days. Ar
irving at Natchez, Audubon made this
town his headquarters for time, and
was very kindly treated by the people.
This place seemed to have delighted the
naturalist, both on account of its beau
full location and its abundance of bird
life. Audubon had one trouble to con-
tend with, something some people are
not unfamiliar with to-day, namely,
lack of friends. When he started South
he left his family in Cincinnati, and not
until nearly year had passed was he
able to send for them. He left Natchez
and went to New Orleans, and at once
set out to find work. At first he was
not successful, but at length he obtained
an order for a portrait from a we'll
known citizen, and this proving a good
likeness he at once received number
of orders, which put him in possession
of sufficient funds to enable him to give
some time to his favorite pursuit, and
he obtained here number of new birds
In March he learned of the conclusion
of the treaty between Spain and th'
United States, and as an expedition was
to start soon to survey the boundary
line, he wrote to President Monroe ask
ing to accompany the party as
draughtsman, but received no reply
He remained in New Orleans till June
when he accepted the position as in
structor in drawing to the daughter of |
rich planter. He afterward left TO
Europe, where he still pursued hi
favorite study, till he became the bes
authority on birds the world has pro
duced. His first works ON ornitbolog
: were illustrated by his own brush an
} pencil, and are said to be finest repre-
sentations Of the feathery tribe ever pu
on paper. Thus the wandering vags
bond, as some called him, arose to tax
place among our greatest scientists
1t is said that his wife was urged t
! leave him, as his Unsuitable desire
. collect birds led him to neglect, at time
! the wants of his family, but she ha
, faith in him and showed it, first b
/. marrying him and afterward by her col
stancy, and at last lived to reap HI
reward by seeing her husband honore
. and looked up TO a. one Of the create
> scientists the world ever produce
There Il society in the United Stat
which bears the name Of this distil
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